In the dead of winter, Ding Jian led Wang Jingqun to the building with the "Records of Famous Masters in Past Dynasties" and asked me to make a preface. Ding Jianshun is my friend for many years. He has written a lot. Besides studying the art history of China, he also made great achievements in novel creation. Writing is mostly typing on the computer, but it is still a tiring and lasting job. After writing, Ding Jianshun cultivated lithograph seal cutting, published the book Stone and Millennium, collected 96 kinds of works by his teacher, Mr. Hong Pimo, and hired a printer to carve it into Hong Pimo Inscription Seal. Later, he planned to copy this set of "Famous Seals of Past Dynasties". The Indian hired by Ding Jianshun is Mr. Wang Jingqun from Zoucheng, my hometown of Shandong and Mencius.
Wang Jingqun and I became attached to seal cutting. According to Wang Jingqun's self-report, when he visited the Liu Yiwen Art Museum in Wang Xizhi's former residence in Linyi, Shandong a few years ago, he greatly appreciated more than 20 kinds of works reflecting my artistic creation and academic status in the exhibition hall, such as seal cutting, calligraphy, ink bamboo and niche shadow, and then came to Shanghai to visit me and listen to me explain the idea of seal cutting face to face.
Wang Jingqun was crippled by polio since he was a child. Although it is inconvenient to walk, it is the principle of "good health, a gentleman strives for self-improvement". After decades of immersion, he has developed a skillful skill. Reviewing his "Famous Prints of Past Dynasties" can not only benefit from the ancient seals of Qin and Han Dynasties, but also feel his efforts in printing art of various schools since Ming and Qing Dynasties. Most of the 96 leisure chapters in this collection are masterpieces of famous artists in past dynasties, and the lower limit extends to modern times, which is enough to reveal their aesthetic orientation. In this way, a systematic review of China's seal cutting history can be regarded as a way to learn from and inherit seal cutting. Appreciating these familiar works, we can get a glimpse of Wang Jingqun's skill in integrating the North-South knife cutting and seal cutting concepts.
By studying the history of seal cutting in China, we can find out all the successful people, whether they go back to the Qin and Han Dynasties or study the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The essence of seal cutting lies in inheriting tradition and exploring innovation.
I once said that when seal cutting rises to a certain height, you will reconsider some relationships subordinate to statutes. Artistic creation must have a statute, which is a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of freedom. However, we can have a broader understanding of statutes, that is, statutes are a procedure that predecessors must follow. It can also be a new game rule created after grasping the traditional precise connotation, and the second is. Judging from the former, it is difficult to change the law. From the latter point of view, written law is open and vital, and I prefer the latter.
For beginners, the first law is the gist. At the second level, the written law behind it began to show its role. This type is a technical approach. Therefore, I think it is very important to know the statutes. Some people are very diligent, and their creative situation is ok, but they don't understand the statutes thoroughly, so they stick to a certain procedure and dare not go beyond the half step set by their predecessors. As a result, they can only follow the trend. There are many such examples in history, such as Wu Ju and Qian Nanyuan.
I think the so-called statutes are a grasp of the essence of tradition, not a rigid observance of certain rules and regulations. It is from this point of view that running away is not necessarily unpredictable, but putting it in order is not necessarily legal, so the image it creates will have a unique connotation. So, here I think the law is a prerequisite. Statues are not how to break them, but how to understand them. Those famous artists who have created successfully in history are all based on this.
Many people who love seal cutting have suggested to me that after having a certain creative skill, it is better to worship the seal cutting style of the effect workers, or to stick to the seal cutting style all the way. Personally, both styles are good, and the key is to decide on the basis of everyone. This foundation, first of all, includes aesthetic height, skill depth, understanding angle, and of course, it should also be considered into the author's personality characteristics. After stepping into one's own creative state, it is particularly important to learn from the previous generation's works and choose the style.
At this point, Wang Jingqun did a good job. He has accumulated long-term experience in managing printing and accepted various schools of seal cutting theory with an open attitude. After Hong Pimo's book title printing and famous notes printing are completed, we plan to create a set of famous aphorisms printing.
I think, with the love of seal cutting, solid basic skills, the encouragement of knowledgeable friends, and the spirit of perseverance, Wang Jingqun can look forward to boarding the elegant hall of seal cutting.